Why are my teeth loose, and how can they be treated?
While loosening of a tooth in a childhood is usually a sign of a healthy transition period, it is opposite in adulthood. In adults, loosening of the teeth is usually caused by disorders of the gums or bone tissue surrounding the dental tissue. Loosening is an indication that the gums that lose their firmness over time and the structure surrounding the teeth can no longer hold the tooth in place.
Noticing that their teeth are loose can be alarming for an adult. Firstly, the reason of this situation should be determined. For instance, if the teeth started to loosen as a result of a hard object damage in the mouth area, your dentist may tell you that this situation is temporary. However, spontaneously receding gums, teeth appearance becoming longer, noticeable tooth mobility may give a sign that you have a non-temporary disease that must be treated by dentists.
The causes of periodontal (gum) disease can be exemplified as following:
Inadequate oral hygiene
The gum disease known as periodontitis, usually refers to an infection that occurs due to poor oral hygiene. It is one of the main causes of tooth loss even if there is no caries. It manifests itself with symptoms such as bleeding in gums, gingival recession, sensitivity in the gums, redness or swelling during brushing teeth.
Systemic diseases and some medications used regularly
In the presence of some diseases in which metabolic production activities are impaired, such as diabetes and cancer treatment, damage occurs in the tissues supporting the teeth. Also, with patients whose mouth breathing or salivery flow is slowed due to the medications used, gingival diseases may repeat, since the washing action of the saliva can not happen as supposed to.
Pregnancy
Due to the increase in estrogen and progesterone hormones during pregnancy, tissues and bones in the mouth are also effected. Unusual changes in hormones can alter the periodontium of the bones and ligaments that support and hold teeth in place. When the periodontium is affected, one or more of the teeth may become loose, mostly temporary.
Trauma
Factors such as hitting the teeth against a hard object, having a damage to the face, clenching/grinding of the teeth can also cause tooth loosening and loss. Many people may not be aware that they are clenching/grinding their teeth until it causes jaw pain.
Osteoporosis
Although popularly known with its effect on bones and affecting the spine, osteoporosis can also damage the jaw bones that support the teeth. Due to the decrease in the density of the jaw bones, the teeth may loosen and fall out.
Smoking
Tooth loss is inevitable in smoking, which causes deterioration of the nutritional activity of the oral tissues.
Of course, the most important point is to take all the necessary steps to detect the disease, treat the disease and prevent further damage, with considering all the above-mentioned causes and other factors.
So how is it treated?
Removal of plaque and root surface correction
With this method, which we can describe as a kind of deep cleaning procedure, formations such as plaque on the surface of the teeth and on the tooth roots are removed, and it is aimed to provide a tight connection of the soft tissue to the tooth surface again, so that gum disease can be stopped and the lost tissue can be regained.
Medications or mouthwashes
In order to heal infected gums and fight bacteria in the mouth, your dentist may recommend medication and anti-inflammatory mouthwash to support optimum oral hygiene.
Surgical treatment
The aim of the surgery is to provide complete cleaning of the inflamed gingival tissue and the supporting tissue damaged by gingival disease by directly reaching the diseased area. If necessary, bone grafts can be used to help rebuild the lost bone.
Soft tissue grafts
In this application, which is also called gingival grafts, it is aimed to restore the protective tissue lost here by transferring the gingival tissue taken from a suitable healthy area of the mouth to the diseased area.
Tooth extraction
If the loosened tooth cannot be saved or other treatment is not possible, your dentist may recommend the extraction of the relevant tooth. For the missing tooth area dental implant, bridge or removable prosthesis can be recommended depending on the size of the space. The bridge application is a fixed prosthesis application that sits on the teeth adjacent to the empty space. And a dental implant is an artificial tooth root in the form of a titanium screw that adapts the prosthetic tooth to the jawbone together with its root.
To protect your teeth and gum health
Brush your teeth twice a day.
Use dental floss once a day.
Do not smoke.
Get regular dental check up and teeth cleaning done.
If you have problems such as clenching or grinding, do not delay your treatment.
If you have chronic diseases, give importance to dentist follow-up.